Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/215

This page needs to be proofread.

FOTHERGILL. 197 Dr. Hird has drawn, from affectionate intimacy, a personal sketch of this great man, which our readers will view with the gratification which attends a visit to the private apartment of the illustrious. The person of Dr. Fothergill was of a delicate, rather of an extenuated make ; his features were all character ; his eye had a pecu- liar brilliancy of expression, yet it was not easy so to mark the leading trait as to disengage it from the united whole. He was remarkably active and alert, and, with a few exceptions, enjoyed a ge- neral good state of health. He had a peculiarity of address and manner, resulting from person, education, and principle ; but it was so perfectly accompanied by the most engaging attentions, that he was the genuine polite man, above all forms of breeding. At his meals he was remarkably tem- perate ; in the opinion of some, rather too abste- mious, eating sparingly, but with a good rehsh, and rarely exceeding two glasses of wine at dinner or supper : yet, by this uniform and steady tem- perance, he preserved his mind vigorous and active, and his constitution equal to all his en- gagements. Not satisfied with the acts of generosity which he had multiphed during his lifetime, he directed in his will that the presents which had been made to him should be restored to their donors.